Constellations What is a constellation? An imaginary picture in the sky, made using stars, that...

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Constellations

What is a constellation?

An imaginary picture in the sky, made using stars, that represents

a person, animal, or object.

Click here for video.

Why were constellations created?

Calendars – Helped farmers keep track of seasons.

Religion – Constellations represented important religious

figures or events.

Navigation - Know where you are as you travel.

Important Groups of Constellations

The twelve (thirteen, really!) constellations of the Zodiac.

Zodiac – “Circle of animals.”

The Sun, Moon, and planets appear to move through the

Zodiac.

Click here for Zodiac video.

Click here for Earth and Zodiac video.

Constellations of the ZodiacAries (Ram), Taurus (Bull), Gemini

(Twins), Cancer (Crab), Leo (Lion), Virgo (The maiden), Libra

(Scales), Scorpius (Scorpion), Sagittarius (Archer), Capricornus

(Water Goat), Aquarius (Water Bearer), Pisces (Fish), & Lucky 13

Ophiuchus (Serpent Bearer).

Circumpolar Constellations

Constellations that rotate around the North Star and are visible all

year.Click here for video.

Constellations that rotate around the North Star and are visible all

year.Circumpolar Constellations – Big Dipper (Ursa Major), Little

Dipper (Ursa Minor), Cassiopeia, Cepheus, and Draco (Dragon).

Circumpolar Constellations

When you look at a constellation, all the stars appear to be the same distance from Earth.

Look at Orion...

Source: NASA StarChild

Why do we see different constellations during the

evening?Earth rotates on its axis.

Rotation - When a planet or moon turns all the

way around or spins on its axis one time.

Why do we see different constellations through the

year?The Earth revolves around the

Sun.Revolution - The circling of one object around another object in

space. The Earth revolves around the Sun. 

Constellations used for navigation.The Big Dipper helps find

direction.Runaway slaves used the Big

Dipper (Drinking Gourd).

Follow the Drinking Gourd.

The Presentation Ends Here.

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